The Tide of Rising Voices
RISING VOICES YOUTH POETRY MOVEMENT presents
Rising Voices Youth Poetry Grand Slam 2015
Saturday 26th September, 7pm, Manukau Institute of Technology Theatre
Slam is more than just a competition; it’s a global, social, literary movement
Marc Kelly Smith, Poetry Slam Founder.
In 2011 a new concept hit the Auckland Town Hall stage. Rising Voices Youth Poetry Slam opened its doors and introduced a new audience to the world of spoken word poetry.
Rising Voices was born out of an inspired collaboration between Grace Taylor and Jai MacDonald, both winners in previous Auckland
poetry Slams and teaching artists to young and emerging spoken word poets. Jai and Grace saw a need for a Poetry Slam
that catered for young poets outside of the pubs and bars most slams are held.
‘It’s about providing a stage for young and emerging spoken word poets to showcase their poetry.’ Says Grace Taylor co-founder and co-ordinator of Rising Voices ‘We wanted to create something that would focus not just on the competition, but to create a positive space prior to the
Slam for the competing poets to learn and develop. Build a creative community they can all thrive in.’
Four years and four slams later they have done just that. The Spoken word poetry scene in Aotearoa is growing.This year Rising Voices has expanded to Christchurch, and in Auckland, interest to compete is now so high they have to hold auditions to take
part.
“Since Rising Voices was created participation of new poets and audiences of spoken word poetry has increased tenfold.
The huge success of the last four years means we have had no problem amassing poets for this year’s slam, it’s
fantastic.”
Rising Voices is the first poetry slam that provides those competing the chance to develop their writing and performance through six
weeks of intensive workshops, this year facilitated in Auckland by Rewa Worley and Jahra ‘Rager’ Wasasala and in
Christchurch by Alice Andersen and Danielle O’Halloran.
It is also an opportunity for audience members to experience poetry like they might never have before. It’s not a stuffy
professor of elocution reading from a dusty volume, Spoken word is fresh, dynamic and often unexpected for first time
poetry goers and an exciting must see addition to the calendar for those who have been before.
Rising Voices 2015 sees twelve emerging spoken word poets, nine from Auckland and three from Christchurch aged 16 to 24 bring their words
to life, influenced by their diverse backgrounds, upbringings, and cultures as they fight for the title of 2015 Rising Voices Poetry Slam Champion.
The one-off performance consists of knockout rounds leading to an overall winner; the poets using only their words and
voice with no music or props allowed. The slam consists of three rounds with each poet preparing three original poems
all no longer than three minutes.
In round one all twelve poets perform. Round two begins with five performers remaining. The Judges give feedback and
knock out a further three poets leaving the top two to battle it out in the final round with the audience taking control
and deciding who will walk away with the championship.
“This year we have a very special guest judge joining us from Hawai’i, Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio, Poet, Singer and member of the BNV slam champ team Youth Speaks Hawai’i. And we are so happy to announce she will also
be providing workshops while in Aotearoa.”
Rising Voices is becoming a movement all on its own, it’s the voice of the youth of Aotearoa and it’s on for one night only. And
According to Grace “If you really want to know what young people think of the world around them, raw and intelligent, Rising Voices is the
stage to hear it.”
Rising Voices Poetry Slam is on for one night only on Saturday 26th September, 7pm, Manukau Institute of Technology Theatre. Tickets
are:
$23.00 General
$18.00 Student (limited tickets)
*A $2.00 Service fees apply
and available from www.dashtickets.co.nz or 0800 484 2538.
ENDS